Full dress uniform: Difference between revisions

As with many European countries, the French military used in the 19th and early 20th centuries many traditional and heavily decorated dress uniforms. Since [[World War II]], they are not in common use and are usually restricted to special units in the [[French Army]] and [[National Gendarmerie]]. The [[ArméeFrench de l'Air and Space Force|Air and Space Force]] and the [[MarineFrench NationaleNavy|Navy]] do not issue full dress uniforms, but onfor special ceremonies, such as changes of command, military personnel should add swords or daggers and full [[medal]]s to their service uniform.<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [https://www.bo.sga.defense.gouv.fr/boreale_internet/popup.php?app_mode=2&txt_id=62425&format=html& INSTRUCTION N° 900/DEF/EMAA/BSOUTIEN/PERS relative aux tenues du personnel militaire de l'armée de l'air]</ref><ref>{{in lang|fr}} [https://www.bo.sga.defense.gouv.fr/boreale_internet/download.php?f_type=PDF&f_id=NTY3MDgucGRm&no_cache=2 tenues du personnel militaire de la marine]</ref>

In the armed forces, only the [[Republican Guard (France)|Republican Guard]] plus certain bands and military academies have a complete full dress (''grande tenue'') uniform issued to all personnel.

[[File:21e RIMa Bastille Day 2008.jpg|thumb|Several units, such as the [[Troupes de Marine]], are permitted to wear more decorated variants of their [[Service dress uniform|service dress]] as their full dress uniform.]]

Units of the [[Chasseurs Alpins]], [[French Foreign Legion]], [[Troupes de marine|Troupes de Marine]], [[1st Spahi Regiment]] and [[Tirailleur|Tirailleurs]] are permitted to wear, onin special circumstances such as [[military parade]]s, a variant of the service or combat dress uniform which includes items of historic ceremonial dress such as headresses, fringed epaulettes, cloaks, waist sashes etc. This is called "Tradition Uniform".<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.unor-reserves.fr/ressources%20pdf,%20xls,%20doc/Instruction%2010300%20-%20Port%20de%20la%20tenue%20AdT.pdf INSTRUCTION N° 10300/DEF/EMAT/LOG/ASH – DEF/DCCAT/LOG/REG relative aux tenues et uniformes des militaires des armes et services de l’armée de terre.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717154226/http://unor-reserves.fr/ressources%20pdf,%20xls,%20doc/Instruction%2010300%20-%20Port%20de%20la%20tenue%20AdT.pdf |date=2019-07-17 }}</ref> Personnel of units which were recipients of state orders of military honor carryinclude in the "Tradition Uniform" the [[fourragère]] of the orders received. Headdress worn with such is the [[Kepi|kepi]].

Bands of the French Army are permitted to wear special uniforms depending on circumstances. On representation duty, they often usewear a 19th c.-style full dress uniform dating from either the Napoleonic or Third Republic eras.

[[Military academy|Military school]]s of the French Army, including the [[école spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr]], the [[école militaire interarmes]] and the école nationale des sous-officiers d'active, usehave full dress uniforms dating back to the 19th century worn by both students and staff. The ESMSC wearshas the [[Shako|shako]] while the two other schools wearhave the kepi.

In addition to the military schools, the [[École polytechnique|École Polytechnique]] also maintains 19th century military-styled full dress uniforms. Founded as a [[military academy]], the institution was transformed into a state-sponsored civilian [[post-secondaryTertiary education|post-secondary school]] in 1970, although it is still operated by the French [[Ministry of DefenceArmed Forces (France)|Ministry of Defence]]. It wearshas the [[bicorne]] as headdress.

[[File:Republican Guard Bastille Day 2013 Paris t110458.jpg|thumb|French [[Republican Guard (France)|Republican Guard]] infantry in full dress uniform.]]

The [[Republican Guard (France)|Republican Guard]] of the National Gendarmerie is the last unit to wear full dress uniform as service uniform, as [[guard of honour]] detachments are required to wear it while on duty. The cavalry regiment wearhas a 19th-century [[dragoon]] uniform, with metal helmet and white riding trousers, while the infantry regiments usehave a high-collared traditional gendarmerie uniform with the shako. The officer cadets and the staff of [[école des officiers de la gendarmerie nationale]] also usewear uniforms whose styling dates back to the 19th century.